Extraordinary Women in BIM 2025
Celebrating Women in the BIM and Digital Built Environment
STAND A CHANCE TO WIN THE ULTIMATE AUTODESK USER EXPERIENCE WORTH
R100 000
ENTRIES CLOSE 20 JUNE 2025
Empowering Women. Advancing BIM. Transforming the Build Environment.
WHAT IS THE EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN IN BIM COMPETITION?
The Extraordinary Women in BIM Competition 2025, hosted by Baker Baynes, honours women in South Africa who are revolutionising the Building Information Modelling (BIM) landscape. This initiative recognises female professionals leading digital transformation in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) through innovation, leadership, and technical excellence. This Extraordinary Woman in BIM will get an all-expenses-paid trip to Nashville, Tennessee, USA, to attend Autodesk University.
ARE YOU AN EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN IN BIM TRAILBLAZER WHO :
- Drives innovation in BIM processes and technologies.
- Leads teams in adopting and implementing BIM solutions.
- Mentors others, fostering growth within the BIM community.
- Delivers impactful projects that showcase BIM excellence.
NOMINATE YOURSELF OR A COLLEAGUE
Whether you see yourself as a BIM leader or wish to recognize a peer’s contributions, we invite you to submit a nomination.
HOW TO ENTER
Nomination Period: 1 May – 20 June 2025
Submission Deadline: 20 June 2025
Winner Announcement: End of July 2025
Eligibility:
- Open to women professionals in the South African BIM sector.
- Employees of Autodesk and the Autodesk Reseller Network, Baker Baynes, their families, and competition judges are ineligible.
- By entering, participants agree that Baker Baynes may use submitted materials for marketing and promotional purposes.
- Must have a valid South African passport.
- Please note: Nominations are purely for awareness and do not increase a nominee’s chances of winning. All nominees must complete a full entry submission to be considered by the judging panel.
WHAT DO I WIN
The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Autodesk University 2025 in Nashville, USA, valued at R100,000.
Prize Includes:
- General admission ticket to Autodesk University (16-18 September 2025).
- Economy class international return flight.
- Five nights’ accommodation.
- Daily transport and food allowance.
- Visa application fees.
Autodesk University (AU) is a premier learning event and community for those involved in design and manufacturing, especially those using Autodesk products. It’s an annual conference where users, experts, and industry professionals gather to learn about the latest trends, share knowledge, and network. AU offers a wide range of classes, workshops, and networking opportunities covering various aspects of Design and Make technologies.
ESTEEMED PANEL OF JUDGES
Our panel of judges consists of industry experts dedicated to recognising excellence in BIM:
With extensive expertise in Autodesk’s cloud-based solutions, Evgeniya bridges technology and transformation across industries. She offers a global lens on BIM innovation and digital collaboration.
Evgeniya Maksimova
Autodesk Cloud Expert at Autodesk
Evgeniya Maksimova is a Product Sales Lead at Autodesk, where she leads the sales and go-to-market strategy for Autodesk Construction Cloud across emerging regions. With more than 13 years of experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, she is committed to helping customers enhance project outcomes by leveraging the power of cloud-based collaboration and data-driven tools.
Prior to joining Autodesk, Evgeniya worked with Oracle’s Construction and Engineering Global Business Unit (Primavera), supporting enterprise customers across the Middle East and Africa. This diverse regional exposure has equipped her with a nuanced understanding of local market needs and the challenges facing large-scale construction projects in developing economies.
Evgeniya is passionate about digital transformation in the built environment and plays an active role in guiding organisations through the shift toward more connected, efficient, and sustainable project delivery models. She combines strategic sales leadership with deep technical knowledge of construction platforms, making her a trusted advisor to both internal teams and customer stakeholders.
As a judge for the 2025 Extraordinary Women in BIM competition, Evgeniya brings both global experience and a customer-centric mindset. Her presence on the panel reflects the competition’s mission to celebrate innovation, leadership, and the transformative impact of women in BIM.
Extraordinary Women in BIM 2024 Winner
A trailblazer in structural technology, Prinell brings a passion for precision and innovation. As last year’s Extraordinary Woman in BIM, she now returns as a judge to help recognise the next wave of BIM excellence.
Prinell Naicker
Senior Structural Technologist at Knight Piesold
Prinell Naicker is a seasoned Senior Structural Technologist with over a decade of experience in structural engineering and design. With a keen focus on leveraging Building Information Modelling (BIM) to improve project efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration, she has played an instrumental role in shaping complex civil and structural projects across South Africa. Her ability to integrate technology with traditional engineering principles has made her a standout leader in the field.
In 2024, Prinell was recognised as the winner of the Extraordinary Women in BIM competition, an honour that reflects both her technical expertise and her commitment to mentorship, transformation, and excellence within the built environment. As a proud advocate for women in STEM, she actively supports initiatives that empower the next generation of female professionals in construction and engineering.
Now serving as a judge for the 2025 competition, Prinell brings a unique perspective as both a past recipient and a hands-on industry practitioner. Her involvement ensures that this year’s judging process continues to champion innovation, inclusion, and impact. Her presence on the panel underscores the competition’s mission to spotlight the women who are redefining the BIM landscape in South Africa and beyond
Autodesk 40 Under 40: Champion of Construction 2024
Recognised as one of Autodesk’s global Champions of Construction, Nicél is a driving force in municipal infrastructure projects and digital transformation in the public sector.
Nicél Muller
Project Manager at City of Cape Town
Nicél Muller is a dynamic Project Manager at the City of Cape Town, where she leads the implementation of key infrastructure and construction projects that directly impact communities. Her role combines strategic planning, team leadership, and digital transformation, making her a powerful advocate for the practical application of BIM in the public sector.
In 2024, Nicél was globally recognised as an Autodesk 40 Under 40: Champion of Construction, an accolade reserved for innovators who are reshaping the future of construction through digital excellence. Her work focuses on streamlining workflows, improving transparency, and ensuring that data-driven decisions support sustainable urban development. She is deeply committed to integrating technology in ways that improve service delivery and empower project stakeholders.
As a judge for the 2025 Extraordinary Women in BIM competition, Nicél brings both technical acumen and a public service ethos. Her involvement ensures that the judging process considers not just innovation, but also real-world impact and transformation.
With a background in municipal infrastructure, she champions the idea that BIM is not just about design, it’s about improving lives through better planning, execution, and collaboration. Her voice on the panel will help highlight women who are creating lasting change in their communities.
Angela Lang is a seasoned digital transformation advocate with a focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM) adoption in emerging markets. Through her role at BIMcommUNITY.Africa, she champions inclusive collaboration and capacity building within the AEC industry. Angela’s commitment to fostering equitable digital advancement makes her a valuable addition to this year’s judging panel.
Angela Lang
Connector at BIMcommUNITY.Africa
Angela Lang is a dedicated advocate for digital transformation in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, with a particular emphasis on Building Information Modeling (BIM) adoption in emerging markets. In her role at BIMcommUNITY.Africa, she focuses on fostering inclusive collaboration and capacity building, ensuring that the benefits of digital innovation are accessible to all stakeholders.
Angela’s work involves engaging with diverse communities to promote equitable digital advancement, addressing challenges related to BIM implementation, and supporting initiatives that bridge the gap between technology and people. Her approach emphasises the importance of aligning technological solutions with the needs and capabilities of the communities they serve.
As a judge for the 2025 Extraordinary Women in BIM competition, Angela brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, collaboration, and inclusivity. Her commitment to fostering equitable digital transformation aligns with the competition’s mission to celebrate innovation and leadership among women in BIM.
A digital transformation specialist with a deep understanding of BIM implementation, ISO 19650 standards, and Common Data Environments, Jani is known for her strategic yet empathetic approach, earning her the nickname “The BIM Counsellor”.
Jani Viljoen
BIM Counsellor and Professional Services Director at Baker Baynes
Jani Viljoen is a leading voice in South Africa’s digital built environment, serving as Director of Professional Services at Baker Baynes. Nicknamed the “BIM Counsellor,” Jani is renowned for her ability to guide teams through the complexities of Building Information Modelling (BIM) with clarity, empathy, and strategic insight. Her work focuses on BIM implementation, ISO 19650 compliance, and the development of Common Data Environments (CDEs), helping organisations align people, processes, and technology for long-term success.
With over a decade of experience supporting architecture, engineering, and construction firms, Jani has been instrumental in enabling businesses to adopt more collaborative, data-driven project delivery models. She works closely with both technical teams and business leaders to ensure digital transformation is not only technically sound but also culturally embraced.
As an internal judge for the Extraordinary Women in BIM competition, Jani brings a unique blend of technical acumen and people-first leadership. Her commitment to mentorship and knowledge-sharing has made her a trusted advisor to both emerging and established professionals in the industry.
Whether she’s leading strategic consulting engagements or advocating for inclusive innovation, Jani’s mission remains the same: to empower others to navigate the digital future of the built environment with confidence and purpose.